Royal Caribbean is known for having BIG ships. In fact, eight of the largest cruise ships on the planet right now are from the cruise line.
But with an announcement today, Royal Caribbean is going to take the mark of having all ten of the largest cruise ships in the world as part of its fleet.
Number nine will come when Legend of the Seas debuts later this year. The cruise line, however, isn’t done yet. It has officially pulled back the curtain on its next Icon-class ship, which could end up the largest in the world, and it’s packed with features that push the class even further than what we’ve seen before.
Hero of the Seas: Debuting August 2027
Hero of the Seas will arrive in Miami in August 2027, becoming the fourth ship in Royal Caribbean’s game-changing Icon Class lineup — joining Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and the upcoming Legend of the Seas.
These ships come in at around 250,000 gross tons, making them slightly bigger than Oasis-class ships, also from Royal Caribbean. They have more than 2,800 cabins and maximum capacity can carry 7,600 passengers.
And while there’s a lot that’s familiar to the other ships in the Icon class, Royal Caribbean rarely stands still and constantly innovates. So what’s actually new on Hero of the Seas?
A New Record For The Most Pools at Sea (Nine of Them!)
One of the big draws to the Icon class has to be the staggering number of different pools around the ship. Many ships have one or maybe two. Icon of the Seas boasted a staggering seven pools on the ship.
Hero of the Seas will up that mark, and will feature nine pools in total, marking the most of any cruise ship at sea.
Among the new additions is Coconut Cove, a Caribbean-inspired pool situated right next to The Lime and Coconut bar. The adults-only Hideaway area is getting a major upgrade too. Where Icon of the Seas had one pool for adults, Hero of the Seas will have two, including what Royal Caribbean is calling the largest swim-up bar at sea.
Returning favorites like Swim & Tonic (the adults swim-up bar) and Splashaway Bay (the kid’s aquapark in the Surfside neighborhood) are also back.
New Waterslides — Including a First for Cruise Ships
Perhaps nothing has been more iconic to the Icon-class than the massive waterpark at the back of the ship. The maze of waterslides looks like literally nothing else at sea.
And if the nine pools aren’t enough, then you’ll be happy to know the Category 6 waterpark is making a return. In fact, two brand-new family raft slides are being added, and one of them is a first for any cruise ship anywhere: a funnel raft slide.
It’s not quite clear if these two new slides take the place of previous slides or if they are additional.
Familiar Favorites Sprinkled With New Venues
Beyond that, much of what passengers have come to expect aboard an Icon ship will make an appearance on the new Hero of the Seas, but with refreshes and new venues here and there.
There will be a staggering 28 restaurants on the ship, from the usual like Chops Grille and Izumi to the AquaDome Market and the new “Orleans Parish Supper Club.” According the Royal Caribbean, this is a “multi-course dining venue with live jazz, craft cocktails, and gourmet Cajun and Creole dishes inspired by the early 20th century elegance of the French Quarter.”
There will continue to be a number of unique staterooms designed for just about every type of group traveling. The big addition is the new Ultimate Family Treehouse. It’s designed for families, covers three decks, has its own rooftop terrace, hot tub, teen space, and two main bedrooms with their own bathroom and balcony.
And of course favorite venues like Central Park, the AquaTheater, and Absolute Zero (the ship’s ice-skating rink) will be on board.
Setting Sail From Miami
If you’re ready to pack a suitcase, you’ll still need to wait a little. It will be some time before Hero of the Seas sets sail. The cruise line is marking August 2027 as its debut.
The ship will sail from Miami, where it will replace its sister ship Icon of the Seas. Icon will move to Galveston, with Hero taking its place.
From Florida the ship will sail on 7-night cruises to spots all around the Caribbean, including CocoCay, Cozumel, St. Maarten and more.
